Same-sex couple complain about Spectrum doctor's comments

Press Photo/Lance WynnGeorgia Carpenter, left, a victim advocate at the gay advocacy group Triangle Foundation, takes information for a report from Erica Schaub, center, and Ashleigh Haberman, right, who are a same-sex couple.

GRAND RAPIDS -- Spectrum Health is investigating whether an urgent-care doctor crossed the line by allegedly telling a same-sex couple his religious views that frown on gay unions.

The two women said the incident occurred at Spectrum Health's South Pavilion in Cutlerville and it has drawn attention from a gay advocacy group and the Grand Rapids Community Relations Commission.

Spectrum Health spokesman Bruce Rossman said the investigation probably will not be complete until sometime this week.

"We've initially talked to both parties. I think some of our people may try and meet personally with this couple," he said. "This isn't the kind of thing that we try to rush through."

Rossman said Spectrum was notified by an e-mail complaint sent by Ashleigh Haberman and her partner, Erica Schaub, after they sought treatment for Schaub's lingering cold.

What they got instead, Haberman told The Press, was an unwanted opinion about their lifestyle. She said the doctor asked who she was in relation to Schaub, and Schaub explained they were "life partners."

"She didn't even have that out of her mouth before he said, 'So, what do you guys feel about your ruling in California?' " Haberman recalled. "As soon as he looked at us, he knew we were gay, and he was looking for an opportunity to start that conversation."

Haberman said they told the doctor they agreed with the ruling that allowed gay couples to legally marry, and that they were married in Canada.

After that, she said, the doctor then allegedly said gay marriage "shouldn't be called marriage" because it is a religious-based word and, as a Christian, he did not consider gay marriage legal.

Michigan does not recognize same-sex marriages as legal.

The doctor continued to share his opinions, she said. "I had to redirect him to the reason we were there," she said.

Haberman said they did not want the doctor fired, nor do they plan to file a lawsuit.

"I didn't want it to happen to somebody else," she said. "I'm not asking him to be OK with it. I'm asking him to do his job."

Colette Beighley, West Michigan field organizer for the Triangle Foundation, said her advocacy group calls such incidents "spiritual violence."

That happens "when people use their beliefs in a way to harm others," Beighley said.

Beighley said the couple has received support from the Community Relations Commission, a nine-person citizens group that advises city officials on race and civil rights issues. Spectrum is based in Grand Rapids.

Rossman declined to identify the doctor, who did not return calls from The Press for comment.

A statement issued by Spectrum said, "We expect our physicians and staff to provide high quality care in a professional manner."

Beighley praised Spectrum for its swift response and for the wording of a "zero tolerance" policy on discrimination that is posted on its Web site.

The policy, which covers sexual orientation and marital status, says "intent or lack of intent to harass is not the determining factor in deciding whether this policy has been violated."